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Jacobs Eyes IRONMAN 70.3 Sunshine Coast

IRONMAN world champion Pete Jacobs may use the inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Sunshine Coast as his final hit-out before defending his title this year.

By Ian Hepenstall

Jacobs was on hand to launch the latest race to join the burgeoning IRONMAN 70.3 family, scheduled for September 15, which is a month before the IRONMAN World Championships in Kona-Kailua, Hawaii.

The Sunshine Coast-based star believes that the race, to be based in Mooloolaba, will be a real hit, which isn't too much of a stretch considering Triathlon Australia priority entries sold out almost immediately when they opened earlier today.

"I know it's going to be a great event because all events on the Sunshine Coast are fantastic events. It's going to be an exciting weekend, definitely," said Jacobs at the launch of the event.

He thinks it could provide the ideal build-up for Hawaii.

"It could be a really good training session just to push my body at that point four weeks out from Hawaii. It could be really exciting with the other guys racing in Vegas (at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships). I'll also be able to have a good hit-out as they race in Vegas, but I'll be able to have it in my backyard."

The famed Sunshine Coast, the popular coastal region north of Brisbane, already hosts the hugely successful Noosa Triathlon Festival and the ITM World Cup in Mooloolaba to confirm its reputation as a leading sporting event destination.

Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games Minister Jann Stuckey said it was a great coup for the region with the event set to attract 1,500 competitors and thousands of visitors.

General entry for IRONMAN 70.3 Sunshine Coast opens at 9 am local time on Thursday, March 7.